Here's a look at when and how Nevada casinos plan to reopen

Although most retail businesses in the state were allowed to open May 9 to in-person service with extra precautions as part of the state’s “Phase 1” reopening, casino resorts were noticeably excluded.

Gov. Steve Sisolak will determine when gaming can resume, but it will be up to the state’s Gaming Control Board and Chairwoman Sandra Douglass Morgan to decide how that happens. Regulators are requiring companies submit reopening plans that incorporate some baseline health and safety measures.

While gambling is at a standstill — losing the state general fund an estimated $160 million in gaming taxes this fiscal year and costing the state countless more dollars in economic activity — gaming regulators have taken some preliminary steps toward reopening.

Last week, licensed operators received a notice allowing them to open on-site restaurants within specific guidelines. The Nevada Gaming Control Board scheduled an informational workshop for May 26 to hear from state and health officials about readiness for reopening and possibly take action.

Many companies have publicly released details about how they’ll do things differently once they reopen. Here’s what we know about the plans of some of the largest casino companies in Nevada. If you have suggested updates, send an email to michelle@thenvindy.com.

There's no word yet on casino openings in Carson City, Carson Valley, Reno or at Lake Tahoe. We will update as that information becomes available.

Casino Companies

MGM

Properties: Mandalay Bay, Delano, Luxor, Excalibur, New York-New York, Park MGM, Aria, Vdara, Mirage, Bellagio, MGM Grand

Reopening date: Unknown. The New York-New York is accepting room reservations with check-in dates as early as June 1.

Details: CEO Bill Hornbuckle said on an earnings call last month that the company won’t open all resorts at once, but will start with a few catered to different price points.

He pointed to mid-priced New York-New York and higher end Bellagio as the likely first two.

“Then from there we’re talking about what other properties should open, if any, at that point in time,” he said, according to USA Today. “We’ll go slow. We’ll be responsive and responsible.”

The company announced on Twitter that free parking will be available at resorts after they open, a shift from a recent move to charge for self-parking.

Status of employees: In early April, MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the company has furloughed about 60,000 employees — the vast majority of its workforce outside of Macau.

Hornbuckle said in an interview with CNBC’s Contessa Brewer that the company has 82,000 employees worldwide. About 13,000 work in Macau, and 69,000 don’t.

“It’s been devastating,” Hornbuckle said about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Upon news of the state-mandated closures, MGM Resorts announced it would pay employees for two weeks and pay health insurance premiums through August. Many of the furloughed employees are on unemployment.

Caesars Entertainment

Properties: Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, LINQ, Paris, Bally’s, Flamingo, Planet Hollywood, The Cromwell

Reopening date: Unknown. Caesars Palace is taking reservations for hotel stays with check-in as early as May 29.

Details: Caesars-owned casinos elsewhere in the country are starting to open, including properties in Arizona and Louisiana, but no date has been provided for Nevada casinos.

“Our casinos are beginning to reopen around the country,” the company said on its website. "The precise date casinos are permitted to open will vary from state to state and is dictated by government or tribal officials in each jurisdiction.”

Last week, the company said it would be opening up resorts in phases based on customer demand. Caesars CEO Tony Rodio said Caesars Palace would be among the first to reopen, according to 8 News Now.

Status of employees: Caesars Entertainment announced April 2 that it was furloughing about 90 percent of its employees in 13 states. The company employs about 64,000 workers in its U.S. and international resorts.

It paid employees for the first two weeks of the shutdown and is paying employee health insurance premiums until June 30 or when employees return to work. Many employees are drawing unemployment benefits.

Wynn Resorts

Properties: Wynn, Encore

Reopening date: Unknown. Officials project late May.

Details: CEO Matt Maddox told employees in a video May 6 that he thinks the company could be ready to reopen by the end of May.

“We’ve been working very closely with the state and local officials, as well as the gaming control boards, to contemplate when it would be safe for when to begin to reopen,” he said in the video posted on Twitter. “While I can’t guarantee that we’re going to be opening at the end of May, it is really dependent on the science and the data coming out. We are preparing for that eventuality.”

Status of employees: Employees have been paid throughout the shutdown and will continue to be paid through the end of May, Maddox said on the video. There are about 15,000 employees covered by the pay extension.

Las Vegas Sands

Properties: Venetian, Palazzo

Reopening date: Unknown. The Venetian is taking reservations for arrivals starting June 1.

Details: As part of a phased reopening, the Venetian resort will be the first to reopen, followed by the Palazzo, the company announced Tuesday. The company said it will be performing COVID-19 testing on employees over a two-week period to prepare for welcoming guests again.

The company is launching a “Share the LOVE” program which donates a free night at The Venetian to a frontline “community hero” or first responder for every room night booked through the program.

Status of employees: Las Vegas Sands plans to continue paying its estimated 9,300 workers until its “anticipated reopening in June,” according to a company statement.

Station Casinos

Properties: Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Sunset Station, Boulder Station, Santa Fe Station, Texas Station, Fiesta Rancho, Fiesta Henderson, Wild Wild West, Wildfire casinos

Reopening date: Unknown. Hotels are taking reservations for stays beginning June 1.

Details: CEO Frank Fertitta III, who leads the company that focuses on locals rather than tourists, said in early May that the first properties to reopen would be Red Rock Resort in Summerlin, Green Valley Ranch Resort in Henderson, Santa Fe Casino in North Las Vegas, Boulder Station, Palace Station, Sunset Station, and the company’s smaller Wildfire properties, according to CDC Gaming Reports.

Another four casinos, including Palms, Fiesta Henderson, Fiesta Rancho, and Texas Station, would reopen at an undetermined date “once we have a chance to assess how our business is performing in a post-COVID-19 world.”

Status of employees: Station Casinos had committed to paying its employees through the much of the shutdown, but announced May 1 that it would need to do layoffs. Fertitta said employees would still be paid through May 16.

According to notifications that Station Casinos filed with the state, the layoffs were expected to affect 6,434 of its 14,000 employees.

Boyd

Properties: Aliante, Gold Coast, Sam’s Town, Suncoast, The Orleans, California Hotel, Fremont Hotel, Main Street Station

Reopening date: Unknown. The Aliante is taking reservations for stays beginning June 1.

Details: Boyd started reopening casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi on May 20 and 21.

The company said in a press release on May 18 that it would provide updates on additional reopenings as information becomes available.

“We are optimistic that we will be able to reopen most of our properties over the next several weeks, and we look forward to offering our guests a safe and enjoyable entertainment experience,” said Keith Smith, Boyd Gaming’s president and CEO.

Status of employees:

Boyd paid staffers during the shutdown through April 10, and maintained their health coverage through June 30 or when they return to work, whichever arrives sooner. But they put most of their workers on unpaid furlough.

“Implementing furloughs was a last resort for us, but a necessary step to protect our company, especially given the current lack of visibility regarding property re-openings,” Boyd President and CEO Keith Smith in a statement.

Boyd has about 25,000 employees at 29 properties in 10 states.

Blackstone

Properties: The Cosmopolitan

Reopening date: Unknown. Customers can make room reservations for stays starting June 4.

Details: On its website, the casino says it “will remain temporarily closed until further notice.” The resort will discontinue parking fees but will keep its resort fee when it reopens, according to Eater Vegas.

Status of employees:

The Cosmopolitan paid full-time employees through mid-April and extended health benefits through June 30, but announced in early April that it was furloughing most of its employees through the duration of the shutdown, according to KSNV.

This story was used with permission of The Nevada Independent. Go here for updates to this and other stories.